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The Upshot
March 16, 2026

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WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FROM UPSHOT FRIENDS

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Samuel Granados/The New York Times

How Iran’s Naval Mines Work

Iran’s arsenal of some 5,000 mines could further complicate efforts to restart shipping in the Persian Gulf.

By Samuel Granados, John Ismay and Agnes Chang

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The New York Times

16 and Counting: Oil and Cargo Ships Are Growing Targets in War With Iran

More than a dozen oil tankers, cargo and other commercial ships have been attacked in the Persian Gulf since the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran began nearly two weeks ago.

By Blacki Migliozzi, Christiaan Triebert and Lazaro Gamio

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The New York Times

War Has Sent Thousands of Planes Flying in the Other Direction

Tens of thousands of flights have been cancelled since the initial strikes, and airlines that once relied on Iranian airspace are now scrambling to find alternatives.

By Zach Levitt and Jacqueline Gu

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The New York Times

War in Iran Has Put Middle East Water Supplies at Risk

Millions of people in the Persian Gulf depend on desalination plants for their water, but recent fighting has highlighted the system's vulnerability.

By Mira Rojanasakul, Claire Brown and Hiroko Tabuchi

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

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The New York Times

Who’s a Better Writer: A.I. or Humans? Take Our Quiz.

A.I. chatbots contain the sum of all human knowledge. That can make them pretty good writers.

By Kevin Roose and Stuart A. Thompson

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The New York Times

Cascade of A.I. Fakes About War With Iran Causes Chaos Online

The technology has been used to create misleading fakes before. But never at this scale.

By Stuart A. Thompson and Alexander Cardia

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